The Alabama mayor has placed the entire police department on administrative leave. The day after officials announced that the large juice had recommended abolishing the small division, “said it was operating as a more criminal enterprise than law enforcement,” and “continued threats to public safety.” is.
Hansville Mayor Jim Sawyer, about 3,200 cities, about 45 miles north of Birmingham, said he was a member of the police department after a “effective meeting” with Kalman County Sheriff Matt Gentry on Thursday evening. He said that it will be placed. Administrative holidays on Thursdays at 5pm.
Sawyer said all of the 911 and emergency calls will be routed directly to the sheriff’s office and will provide all law enforcement services to the city of Hansville.
At a press conference Wednesday, Calman County District Attorney Champion Crocker announced that the large ju judge had indicted Hansville Police Chief Jason Shane Merlin and four other officers. As part of a massive corruption investigation.
According to the Cullman Times, the police department only employed eight officers as of August when Merlin was sworn as chief. The woman who answered the police station’s dispatch line early Thursday said she could not tell reporters about its size and had no comment on the department. Messages left in the Chief’s work voicemail were not immediately returned.
“It’s a sad day for law enforcement, but at the same time it’s a good day for the rule of law,” Crocker said he joined Gentry at the start of a press conference Wednesday.
Crocker read nine survey results from the Great Juju Court. Including this, it played a role in the death of a 2024 overdose temp at Hansville 911, who was found to be dead at work.
The Great Ju judge, Christopher Michael Willingham, 49, was the dispatcher who controlled the “combined toxic effects of fentanyl” and accidental overdose from other drugs, when the body was found in his office in August. ) did not file accusations against the officers in connection with the death of the officer. Alabama Faculty of Forensic Science.
However, the big ju judge said his death was a “direct result” of the police station’s “negligence, lack of proceedings, general incompetence and neglect of human life.”
The revelation comes after the Alabama Bureau of Investigation investigated Willingham’s death.
The large ju judge also stated that the department failed to explain, preserve and maintain the evidence, and in doing so failed to the victims of the crime and the public, adding that some of the evidence cannot be used. Ta. Crocker said any pending cases would go through a review process.
The large ju judge said the department “is operating as a more criminal enterprise than law enforcement agencies recently,” and “is a specific, continuing threat to public safety,” the officer charged with Alabama Peace He said it should be stopped by officer standards. and the Training Committee. After the Great Ju Court described it as a “culture of corrupt ramp-extension,” the Great Ju Court recommended that another agency be tasked with police in Hansville.
Crocker said one of the most concerns is that the police department’s evidence rooms are not safe.
“Criminal evidence must be secured to have evidence of prosecution and ensure legitimate proceedings,” he said. “This evidence room was not safe.”
He showed me a photo of a hole in the wall of the evidence room and a photo of a green broom saying it was used to “open Jimmy” the door. Crocker said the big ju judge had seen “a lot of videos” from security camera footage showing that the evidence room was being accessed on a daily basis by individuals not authorized to do so.
The large ju judge toured Hansville Prison on February 12, and was unsure of the police station’s ability to maintain the prison or meet the basic health and safety needs of prison staff or prisoners, Crocker said.
Mayor Sawyer said in a statement Wednesday that the city will fully cooperate with all the police department’s investigations. Sawyer also said the city council will consider the recommendations of the Great Ju Court to “act swiftly and decisively to address the issue.”
Sawyer also said he spoke to the district attorney and agreed that there should be an audit of the contents of the evidence room. In a statement, Sawyer said he could not comment further, citing the ongoing investigation.
Messages and personal numbers left to Sawyer in his office were not immediately returned.
Gentry, who also attended Wednesday’s press conference, said all of the defendants were released on bonds.
The other officer charged is Cordia Lanquelso, 33. Jason Scott Wilbanks, 37; William Andrew Shernitt, 39; Eric Michael Kelso, 44; and his wife, Donna Reed Kelso, 63.
Cody Alan Kelso, Wilbanks, Shelnut and Merlin were all accused of tampering with physical evidence.
Chief Merlin has also been charged with two felony counts of failing to report an ethical crime, and according to his indictment, Cody Allan Kelso and Wilbanks are involved.
According to indictments obtained by NBC News, Donakelso is accused of illegally distributing anabolic steroids to Wilbanks and Cordia Lanquelso. She and her husband are charged with illegal distribution of controlled substances and criminal conspiracy to commit controlled substance crimes.
Eric and Donakelso declined to comment Thursday. Their attorney, Jason Knight, did not immediately return a request for comment.
The phone numbers listed on Marlin, 51, and Wilbanks appear to be disconnected. Shelnutt and Cody Alan Kelso did not return requests for comment. Cody Allan Kelso’s lawyer, John C. Robbins, resigned before his client was charged, and said he was looking forward to protecting him. Robbins also said Cody Alan Kelso has no connection to Eric and Donna Kelso.
“Now I look forward to seeing evidence that I believe the prosecution must support these allegations,” Robbins said. “It’s going to be interesting.”
